The Design Process Steps in the Design Process The following slides outline stages and associated activities of the design process.

The Design Process 1. IDENTIFYING AND DEFINING THE PROBLEM The problem must be clearly identified. A statement of the problem should be short and complete. It must give all the information available about the problem.

The Design Process 2. ANALYSING INFORMATION This involves listing questions regarding the project. Questions will vary from project to project. Questions need to be documented in relation to such issues as:   TIME   COST   SAFETY   MATERIALS   PROCESSES   FUNCTION   APPEARANCE   ERGONOMICS

The Design Process 3. SYNTHESIS ‘Synthesis’ follows the ‘Analysis’ and provides answers to the questions. Usually it is impossible to answer all the questions until the project is virtually completed. Some questions can only be answered when the research section has been completed. For example, questions on the choice of materials, or the way ergonomics is applied, must be answered after research is undertaken in such areas.

The Design Process 4. RESEARCH Research must be relevant to the project. Research needs to be undertaken in relation to such maters as:  Suitable materials  Ergonomic factors  Related safety factors  Existing products Research may be undertaken by using:  the library  the Internet / CD-ROMs/DVDs  interviews with people with the aim of helping to solve the design problem

The Design Process 5. EVALUATING AND SELECTING APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS The evaluation of an appropriate solution draws on the information collected and presented during research. Documenting the appropriate solution and presented during research. Documenting the appropriate solution includes the development of detailed graphical information that will allow the construction or manufacture of the project. Often working drawings of the project with a parts list are developed as apart of the documentation however other forms of documentation may be developed depending on the nature of the intended project.

The Design Process 6. IMPLEMENTING CHOICES Construction of the final product from the detailed documentation is undertaken. During the construction of the project issues such as time, safety, materials During the construction of the project issues such as time, safety, materials and processes also need to be simultaneously considered. and processes also need to be simultaneously considered.

The Design Process 7. EVALUATION What are the criteria for a successful project? Has the completed project solved the identified problem? should be Social issues, health and safety, ethical and environmental issues should be considered in relation to the final project.

The Design Process References